What Is The Best Live Version Of Learning To Live?

[Herrick]

I was listening to Live At The Marquee and was thinking about how I like A Fortune In Lies much more compared to other performances I've heard like the original studio recording & When Day & Dream Reunite. So, I am looking for the best live version of Learning To Live where LaBrie hits that high note. I'd like to know which live album, including official bootlegs, has the best live performance of Learning To Live. I've only heard the one on Live Scenes From New York.

[Scorpion]

I'd probably say the version on The Dance of Eternity (https://ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=29&idcategory=8). I haven't listened to it in a while, but IIRC, James absolutely nails the vocals there, hitting the F# easily and very gracefully.

[Herrick]

Thanks Scorpion, I'll look into that one. And that tracklist is most sexcellent! Is A Change of Seasons the older version? I'm not sure when it became the version that was released when Sherinian was in the band.

[John94]

My favourite version of Learning to Live is the extended jam version on the Octavarium tour, there are some great bootlegs on youtube of it.

[krands85]

The New York bootleg from 93 mentioned above is great and theres quite a few nice unofficial ones if you look on Youtube, just search for Learning to Live 1992 or 1993 or whatever.

'Lost in the Sky' from Milan in November 93 is pretty awesome and also one from Hamburg in April 93 called Perfect Germany Dreams I think. The best F# IMO is the one from Live in Long Island in October 94, it just sounds a bit cleaner/purer or something than the others from that period. But the overall sound quality of that recording isn't quite as good as the others already mentioned.

I expect wasteland might have some ideas, I think he has heard more bootlegs than anyone 

[Herrick]

Thanks for those suggestions. I'll definitely look into them. I've seen a lot of the ones on Youtube but I want something that I can put on my iPod. There's a really great one where LaBrie sounds amazing on that high note but the audio & video are out of synch There's a shorter clip of just the high note (I think it's from the same performance) but there's some kind of audio malfunction where the sound cuts off or something...almost like a hiccup. But damn that high note sounds amazing! LaBrie was The Mang back in the day

[PetFish]

No such thing as a 'best' version but my favourite would be the Live Scenes from NY version.  I love the reggae section and improv and the merge back into the regular song is just superb.

[orcus116]

My favourite version of Learning to Live is the extended jam version on the Octavarium tour, there are some great bootlegs on youtube of it.

That was a great one. I'm not too fond of any of the versions on the official releases.

[Herrick]

No such thing as a 'best' version but my favourite would be the Live Scenes from NY version.  I love the reggae section and improv and the merge back into the regular song is just superb.

True. I should've have put "favorite" instead of "best". The Live Scenes one is good (the whole live album is excellent) but I'm looking for live versions where LaBrie nails that high note

Side story: I was never much into live albums (I'm still not) but when I got into Dream Theater 10 years ago, I really, REALLY got into them & bought up all the albums I could get my hands on. So I got Live Scenes right when it came out. Ahhh...3 CDs of goodness Those were Happy Times. Still gotta get the DVD.

[Scorpion]

Thanks Scorpion, I'll look into that one. And that tracklist is most sexcellent! Is A Change of Seasons the older version? I'm not sure when it became the version that was released when Sherinian was in the band.

Yeah, it's the old version. I actually prefer the final one, but it's an interesting listen all the same.

[MajorMatt]

Thanks for those suggestions. I'll definitely look into them. I've seen a lot of the ones on Youtube but I want something that I can put on my iPod. There's a really great one where LaBrie sounds amazing on that high note but the audio & video are out of synch There's a shorter clip of just the high note (I think it's from the same performance) but there's some kind of audio malfunction where the sound cuts off or something...almost like a hiccup. But damn that high note sounds amazing! LaBrie was The Mang back in the day

I think this is possibly my favorite F# moment - here it is without the hiccup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5g8tzwi_Rk

But as for the best official release, probably the official bootleg already mentioned. Though I do love the LSFNY version too. If DT ever release a show from the first European leg of the ADTOE tour, then I'm sure well have another awesome version of LtL too.

[wasteland]

Vocally: 08.06.92 (longest F# ever) or 04.10.92 (the one Matt posted)

Instrumentally: pretty much every 1995 version. I'll post some of them to make clear the reason behind this statement. 

[Herrick]

I think this is possibly my favorite F# moment - here it is without the hiccup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5g8tzwi_Rk

Yeah that's the one Just made my muddafuggin' day

[MajorMatt]

Vocally: 08.06.92 (longest F# ever)

Not heard that one before, awesome! 

Here's a YouTube link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSWzXSD42Y

[wasteland]

Vocally: 08.06.92 (longest F# ever)

Not heard that one before, awesome! 

Here's a YouTube link to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSWzXSD42Y

I know this link as if it was me who uploaded it! (actually yeah, it was really me )

[MoraWintersoul]

The '95 live versions are amazing instrumentally because they sound like liquid happy and come in extended forms. God bless John Petrucci and Derek Sherinian.

[wasteland]

The '95 live versions are amazing instrumentally because they sound like liquid happy and come in extended forms. God bless John Petrucci and Derek Sherinian.

This, you all have a look at those: https://sdrv.ms/SMIVs4

I particularly recommend the ever changing extended outros. Don't mind the vocal performances, 95 was a fairly bad year for James, except for a few selected "miracle" shows.

[seasonsinthesky]

The '95 live versions are amazing instrumentally because they sound like liquid happy and come in extended forms. God bless John Petrucci and Derek Sherinian.

This, you all have a look at those: https://sdrv.ms/SMIVs4

I particularly recommend the ever changing extended outros. Don't mind the vocal performances, 95 was a fairly bad year for James, except for a few selected "miracle" shows.

do any of these include the Tokyo '95 YtseJam release?

[wasteland]

If you are speaking of the tracks I posted, none of them has ever been officially released, of course, or I wouldn't have been allowed to post them or trade them. If you are speaking of the good JLB performances in 95 yes, 28.10 was among the good ones. The whole ACOS mini tour was quite stunnning, especially if you consider how much he was struggling just a few months before.